people photography

The orange beards of Bangladesh

In March/April 2017 I travelled to Bangladesh to make several photo reportages.
One of the things that amazed me were the man with orange beards that I saw on the street.
I decided to walk through Old Dhaka and ask every single man with an orange beard if I could take a picture of him.

When I asked why they dyed their hair, most said because of Prophet Muhammed. Who is believed to have dyed his hair with henna as well. And some said as a first reason because they think it’s beautiful.

Islam is the largest religion in Bangladesh. 90% of the population is Muslim. And although I have traveled to other Muslim countries I have never seen men who dyed their beards with henna. It made the already colorful streets of Old Dhaka even more colorful.